英语国家概况-4.ppt

The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars fought in medieval England from 1455 to 1487 between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The name Wars of the Roses is based on the badges used by the two sides, the red rose for the Lancastrians and the white rose for the Yorkists. The reasons for the war The ambitious nobles wanted to gain the control of the government. A mass of unemployed soldiers provided the military force for nobles. Supporting the Lancastrians were the wild nobles of the Scottish and Welsh borders. (the backward feudal landowners) The Yorkists drew most of their support from the progressive South. (the commercial-minded gentry) The common people were little affected and so was the economic life of the time. It is generally believed that the Wars of Roses practically extinguished feudalism in England. The House of Lancaster won and their leader Henry Tudor became King Henry VII and started the rule of the House of Tudor 都铎王朝 (1485-1603). Protestant Reformation Defined Reformation, was a spiritual/religious revolution that aimed to correct the “problems” of the Catholic Church and sparked a century and a half of religious civil war. It resulted in the establishment of the Protestant branches of Christianity- e.g. Lutheranism, Calvinism etc. The Reformation caused a split in Christianity with the formation of these new Protestant religions. Continuing crisis of the Church The Church as a state a single ruler = Pope a hierarchical organization Pope; archbishop; bishop; priest a common language, and its own system of law. Latin It raised taxes and could raised armies. Representatives of the pope were powerful throughout Europe. archbishops in every state Growing popular dissatisfaction 1.too much emphasis on ritual 2.wealth, corruption, abuse 2.1 Inquisition (Church Court ) 2.2 Tithe 2.3 Indulgence-Church encouraged Christians to save their souls by donating money to the churches 2.4 Peter’s Pence ? 1 penny per person[paid